The WORST tantrum yet!

I am definitely preparing myself for the terrible 2 stage after tonight. I guess I can say its like those teenage girls on 16 & Pregnant who say, "I never thought it would happen to me." You want your child to be somewhat close to perfect because their behavior reflects upon you right? Kerry and I were just discussing again last week about how to combat bratty behavior. If we let him win these tantrums, his behavior will never change or be corrected. He will turn into that bratty kid that is never disciplined and does whatever he pleases. I do not want that. I certainly don't want to be looked at as a mom with no control. I can read article after article on how to deal with tantrums, but sometimes the tactics just don't work for me so I have to do what I think is best at the time.

Let me give you the play by play of what went down at Super Target tonight.

We arrive happy as can be. Caleb now loves Super Target (he is rewarded with a lollipop for good behavior) so taking him here has not been a chore. We walk hand in hand into the store until Caleb sees that he will be trapped in a cart and starts to run saying, "No cart. No cart." I see him try to hide around a corner so I catch him and scoop him up. He instantly begins to scream and fight being put into the cart. So much so, that is a battle for a good 5 minutes to get him to sit down in the cart. I see many onlookers from produce watching this public nightmare unfold, but do I give up? No. I keep trying and finally get him in, strapped. I need all the support I can get now at this point. He is screaming like he is being tortured for about 10 minutes as I quickly shop. I am trying to ignore the fact that I am disturbing other shoppers at this point, but no one really has given me any looks, they just keep on their merry ways, but inside I know what they are thinking. I would think the same thing. Most experts say to ignore the tantrum. If no one is paying attention, the behavior tends to cease. Cease, I think not. At one point, he has managed to make his way out of the restraint and is now standing in the cart. This is very dangerous as he fell backward doing this exact same thing at Lowe's during a tantrum. Did he not learn? Now he is hanging on me, begging to walk. I cannot have a toddler walk around loose in Target as fun as it may sound to him. I set him down for a moment to swallow my anger and he is gone. I quickly look to the right a few aisles. No Caleb. I turn around and there he is with 2 boxes of maxi pads in hand wanting to put them in the cart. Thanks, but no thanks. I pick him up again, the boxes drop. A man helps by picking them up for me. Inside I am furious, but I am in public and there is not much I can do. I see a bench nearby and I try and sit him down for a breather. No luck.

We must now abandon our cart and leave the store. I carry him out to the car and he is screaming for Super Target. Super Target. Super Target. I buckle him in easily (this is a surprise, because this can be a battle during tantrums too!) and try and have a chat with him about the tantrum and how inappropriate it was. That Mommy now has to drive all the way home because you misbehaved in the store. He continues to scream Super Target. Super Target as we drive away. At this point, I am mad because Super Target is not right around the corner anymore. I drove here to get some things needed and I don't want to return home empty handed. We drive around the block and talk it out. I tell him that we can go back to Super Target if he will sit in the cart for Mom. "Okay. Okay." I tell him again that we only get treats if we behave in the store. "Okay. Okay." I pull back into the parking lot and carry him back inside without a struggle. I find our abandoned cart still waiting for us and place him in the cart. No battle. I am able to finish my shopping with a happy boy who is finally rewarded with his lollipop.

Now you may be thinking, Caleb does not deserve the lollipop. I would think the same thing too, but he corrected his behavior and earned the reward. Did I let him win this battle? No. I removed him from the situation and attempted our errand again. I guess my pep talk helped, I don't know. I would have let him win if I let him do what he wanted to do-walk in the store. I told Kerry the only time I have given into these tantrums is really during a bib boycott in a restaurant. I'd rather he mess up his shirt so we can eat in peace out in public.

Every day is different. These tantrums are not daily, they sneak up on you when you least expect it. I do not want to raise a brat. I want to raise a respectable young man. Each battle is a learning experience on how to better handle the next one. You just hope there is not a next!

P.S. If anyone who reads my blog has helpful advice on handling tantrums.....please let me know!